Background
He was born in Charlestown, West Virginia, on July 12, 1905, to John W. Tolbert, Senior, and Sarah Dabney Tolbert.
He was born in Charlestown, West Virginia, on July 12, 1905, to John W. Tolbert, Senior, and Sarah Dabney Tolbert.
In his youth he attended Dunbar High School (Washington, District of Columbia). He was the first black man to run for public office in Loudoun County, Virginia, John Tolbert later served on the Leesburg Town Council for 14 years, from 1976 to 1990, and never missed a meeting. Tolbert Junior. Elementary School, Tolbert Street and the Tolbert Building, all in Leesburg, are named in his honor.